Shantae and the Pirates Curse Review (Nintendo Switch)

The third game in the Shantae series has our half-genie hero starting out without her genie powers and living as a normal human after losing them at the end of the last game. But when pirates attack her home town and her old nemesis Risky Boots appears to tell her about a mysterious Pirate Master she has little choice but to try and save the day with nothing but her Kabuki Ninja-esque hair attack and ability to leap around.

This sets Shantae off on an adventure that takes her to a number of different islands looking for dens of evil which much be purged to stop the evil Pirate Master from returning. Each island and environment is beautifully presented with some of the most colourful and vibrant 2D platform artwork seen in a very long time. They also contain different themed environments and enemies so there is always something new and varied to see.

Unlike previous games, instead of Shantae using her magic powers to transform into different forms, she now has to collect various pirate artefacts which then grant her the ability to progress. It follows a template similar to Metroid in that you collect an object like a gun which then allows you to operate a switch to open a door to then allow you to move to a new section of the level. There is also a fair amount of wandering back and forth between the different islands and levels but as they are so much fun to explore and revisit this isn’t an issue. 

Level design remains strong throughout with the islands and dungeons giving different challenges and puzzles to solve. The game is always challenging but never unfair or too harsh to stop progression for long. Finding heart squids will also increase your life and Shantae can buy upgrade shampoo and conditioner to level up her hair’s attack power and speed. The learning curve is set just about perfectly and players should feel like they are always prepared for what they come up against without it being a complete walkover. 

One of the highlights of the game is the colourful collection of characters and ever-so-slightly twisted humour that runs through the game. Early on for instance you’ll meet a former giant squid boss who is bemoaning the fact he feels he’ll only be used as a returning reference to the previous game so is planning to retire (Naturally you’ll have to find him a travel brochure so he can start travelling the world looking for the just the right spot).

There are a host of well-known characters from the series to touch base with and it adds just the right amount of fan service for players of series. The writing is also sharp and entertaining – if a little uncomfortable at times. Weirdly, there is a slight sexual undercurrent throughout. An early puzzle requires light to reflect off two untanned girls who won’t strip to their bikinis, while later Shantae acquires x-ray glasses from a disappointed character that has moved to a beach resort out of season so there are no girls to look at. It’s not overly dodgy, but something that parents of younger gamers will probably want to know about.

Some of the character design is also questionably. There are Mermaid characters that are topless (just without nipples), and what can only be described as a giant rolling ball orgy of naked women as a boss to contend with. While Shantae can be forgiven for her attire as she is both a Genie and dancer, both she and a few other characters seem to have ‘developed’ a little since last the last game as well.

Pixelated cleavage aside, the game is an absolute joy to play and an experience that will keep you smiling throughout. Shantae controls very well and always responds how she should. The different objects you pick up always add something new to mess around with and there are plenty of extra side quests and collectables to hunt around for. It all gives you an excuse to spend a bit more time with the game and when something is as joyful as this then it’s likely you’ll be happy to oblige it.

Overall, this is another top draw entry in the Shantae series. This is an accomplished and quality title that rivals  almost everything else in the same genre. It’s a colourful, fun and inventive game and feels right at home on the Switch. It's great to see the series building up more of a fan base as they offer some of the best Metroidvania action out there. If you love your retro inspired platformers then you really need to own this.

Overall 9/10

Nintendo Switch Roundup 7: Shantae

 

With the recent release of the Gameboy Colour game on the Switch you can now get hold of all five Shantae games on Nintendo’s console. Metroidvania’s at heart, the series has become something of a popular cult classic among fans and physical copies of the games can go for crazy money. The basic gimmick that runs through the series is Shantae being able to transform into different animals by dancing in order to overcome obstacles and barriers.  Here we look at how the five games in the series hold up.

Shantae

The original GBC game is certainly the most difficult one to go back to now but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored outright. It’s a solid Metroidvania adventure for the time and has some clever morphing abilities and spells to liven things up. It is only really let down by poor check pointing and confusing sign posting. Though being a port rather than a remake, the Switch version allows for anytime saving along with a few other quality of life features that makes it more tolerable. It also includes the enhanced GBA version of the game which boosts the colour palette a bit. It’s not massively expensive either (especially compared to the actual cart), so fans of Shantae who have played the other games should get something out of this.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge: Director’s Cut

Originally released as DSi Ware, Risky’s Revenge is a big step forward in terms of both look and general design. Again, this is a port rather than a remake so expect pixel work and borders rather than upgraded visuals and widescreen. It’s bigger and bolder than the first game as well but is slightly clunky compared to later games in the series. The biggest issue is that dungeons have no map at all and the world map is borderline useless but the game does remain fun and entertaining to play – just be prepared to spend some time trying to work out where that key is you need. It further develops the formulae of having a big, interconnected, world which require abilities to be gained in order to progress and the level design holds up remarkably well.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse

At the start of Pirate’s Curse Shantae has lost her genie powers so now has to find and use various magical Pirate items in order to add to her abilities. Instead of the dancing transformation Shantae can now also use her genie lamp in order to suck up magic and various different types of gas to further expand her repertoire of moves. It’s one of the tougher Shantae games but also one of the best with clever puzzles and dungeons to explore. The adventure aspect of the game is also different with players heading off to multiple islands in search of ‘dens of evil’ instead of the interconnected world layout of the previous games.

Pirates Curse is certainly a highlight of the series and also an essential purchase of platform fans. We looked at the game in more detail here -  https://www.retro101.co.uk/2015/02/shantae-and-pirates-curse-review-wii-u.html

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Shantae’s first foray into HD is a mixed bag. This is arguably the weakest of the five games though it does look great. It lacks some of the sparkle in its design that the other games have in abundance and is just a bit dull. It’s not the longest game either, though there are a host of other modes and characters that can either be purchased as DLC or that come included in the complete edition. It’s bright and colourful but ultimately easily forgettable when compared to the other games.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens

The most recent of the games has our half-genie visiting Paradise Island along with her genie friends. They are of course all captured and players have to explore under the island to rescue them. Each genie then grants Shantae a new ability which she can use to access further into the underground city. This is the game that most closely follows the format of Symphony of the Night with players exploring one big castle like level. It works really well with a colourful design and a light hearted script throughout. It may be a little easy for some but it’s also a decent length and some of the boss battles are challenging until you work them out so there’s plenty here to scratch your exploration itch with.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse Review (Wii U)

The third game in the Shantae series has our half-genie hero starting out without her genie powers and living as a normal human after losing them at the end of the last game. But when pirates attack her home town and her old nemesis Risky Boots appears to tell her about a mysterious Pirate Master she has little choice but to try and save the day with nothing but her Kabuki Ninja-esque hair attack and ability to leap around.

This sets Shantae off on an adventure that takes her to a number of different islands looking for dens of evil which much be purged to stop the evil Pirate Master from returning. Each island and environment is beautifully presented with some of the most colourful and vibrant 2D platform artwork seen in a very long time. They also contain different themed environments and enemies so there is always something new and varied to see.

Unlike previous games, instead of Shantae using her magic powers to transform into different forms, she now has to collect various pirate artefacts which then grant her the ability to progress. It follows a template similar to Metroid in that you collect an object like a gun which then allows you to operate a switch to open a door to then allow you to move to a new section of the level. There is also a fair amount of wandering back and forth between the different islands and levels but as they are so much fun to explore and revisit this isn’t an issue. 

Level design remains strong throughout with the islands and dungeons giving different challenges and puzzles to solve. The game is always challenging but never unfair or too harsh to stop progression for long. Finding heart squids will also increase your life and Shantae can buy upgrade shampoo and conditioner to level up her hair’s attack power and speed. The learning curve is set just about perfectly and players should feel like they are always prepared for what they come up against without it being a complete walkover. 

One of the highlights of the game is the colourful collection of characters and ever-so-slightly twisted humour that runs through the game. Early on for instance you’ll meet a former giant squid boss who is bemoaning the fact he feels he’ll only be used as a returning reference to the previous game so is planning to retire (Naturally you’ll have to find him a travel brochure so he can start traveling the world for the just the right spot).

There are a host of well-known characters from the series to touch base with and it adds just the right amount of fan service for players of series. The writing is also sharp and entertaining – if a little uncomfortable at times. Weirdly, there is a slight sexual undercurrent throughout. An early puzzle requires light to reflect off two untanned girls who won’t strip to their bikinis, while later Shantae acquires x-ray glasses from a disappointed character that has moved to a beach resort out of season so there are no girls to look at. It’s not overly dodgy, but something that parents of younger gamers will probably want to know about.

Some of the character design is also questionably. There are Mermaid characters that are topless (just without nipples), and what can only be described as a giant rolling ball orgy of naked women as boss to contend with. While Shantae can be forgiven for her attire as she is both a Genie and dancer, both she and a few other characters seem to have ‘developed’ a little since last the last game as well.

Pixelated cleavage aside, the game is an absolute joy to play and an experience that will keep you smiling throughout. Shantae controls very well and always responds how she should. The different objects you pick up always add something new to mess around with and there are plenty of extra side quests and collectables to hunt around for. It all gives you an excuse to spend a bit more time with the game and when something is as joyful as this then it’s likely you’ll be happy to oblige it.

Overall, this is another top draw entry in the Shantae series. Shantae game are always more expensive than other digital games but they are also of a much more accomplished quality than almost everything else in the same genre. It’s a colourful, fun and inventive game and feels right at home on the Wii U. It would be great for the series to build up more of a fan base as they offer some of the best Metroidvania action out there. If you love your retro inspired platformers then you really need to own this.

Overall 9/10